MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – Barry University women’s golf team finished third at the Lady Bucs Invitational Tuesday at Don Shula’s Golf Club.
It was the first year of the tournament, and the first major event a Barry team has hosted since the 2010 Barry Bucs Invitational, also held at Shula’s. Nova Southeastern won this year’s tournament, shooting 308 in the final round to finish with a 54-hole total of 904. Rollins was second at 907.
Following its school-record 292 in the second round, the Buccaneers shot 320 Tuesday on the par-72, 6,045-yard course for a 917 cumulative score in the 10-team, 65-player field that featured nine of the top-14 ranked teams in the country, according to the Golf World/Women’s Golf Coaches Association poll.
Barry’s third-place finish was its best in its last three events, and the 917 three-round total was the best of the season. Its second-round 292 was the tournament low.
“I was glad that we put ourselves to put ourselves to win the tournament in this last day,” Buccaneers coach Shannon Sykora said. “There’s a lot of positives that we can draw from. We played a great second round to pull ourselves within one.”
The Bucs trailed the eventual champion Sharks by a stroke entering Tuesday’s final round.
Rollins’ Hally Leadbetter won with a 3-over 72-76-71 – 219. Florida Southern’s Emily Rymer and Nova’s Liliana Cammisa tied for runner-up, both three strokes behind. Barry’s top finisher was junior Francesca Perini, who finished 12th at 229.
“It was a successful tournament, and I think all the teams were happy,” Sykora said. “We’re super happy with the turnout and the quality of the teams that competed, and we’re hoping to make it bigger next year.”
Bucs freshman Martina Bertuccioli shot 78 in the final round to finish in a three-way tie for 15th at 230. Sophomore Maria Paola Fiorio and junior Daniela Murray tied for 18th at 232. Murray, competing as an individual, had the low round of the day for Barry, shooting a 2-over 74.
Sophomore Nicky Ferre tied for 21st with a 233 three-round score. Junior Nancy Vergara tied for 26th at 234. Competing as an individual, freshman Carolina Heredia finished in a six-way tie for 33rd at 238. Freshman Paloma Vega finished 58th with a 265.
“I was really happy with Martina’s play, and obviously happy with Dani and Carolina in her first tournament played,” Sykora said.
Vergara had seven birdies in the tournament. Florida Southern's Emily Rymer, who led the tournament after two rounds, led the field with nine birdies. Saint Leo's Clare Connolly and Marie Coors each had eight. Vergara was 1-under in par-3 holes. Cammisa's 3-under on par 3s was tops in the event.
Barry finished second as a team in par-4 scoring with a 4.32 average. Rollins led that category at 4.23. The Bucs' 26 birdies were one behind tournament leader Saint Leo.
“I think the message is, ‘Really, we’re capable of shooting 292,'" Sykora said, "'and we’re capable of putting up low rounds, but we just need to be more consistent.’”